In Occupation's Shadow
Alysia caught Lyn's fist in her right hand, and then took firm hold of her forearm with her left. Alysia spun hard, and released the Sacae tribeswoman, sending her sprawling onto the ground. Alysia rushed over to her sprawled body, drawing a hand across the Lyn's exposed throat.
"Dead." She declared, offering her hand to the green-haired warrior. Lyn smiled, and took Alysia's hand, pulling herself up to her feet.
"Agreed. You are more than a match for me." She said, impressed. "Why aren't you fighting up front more?
"Because, in this instance, you were without your sword." Alysia pointed out. "But in a true fight, I doubt that my foe would come off of his horse, remove his armor, and cast aside his spear in the name of a fair fight."
Lyn nodded grimly, and then looked around. They had arrived at the abandoned fortress earlier, all eager to end a hard day's travel, though Sain had initially objected to the arrangements. His gripes had been quickly shot down when Wil had pointed out that boarding with a village might attract the attention of the Ganelon Bandits that they had just defeated.
Alysia caught sight of Florina and Kent sparring with some blunted lances, and she couldn't help but smile as Florina landed a hit on Kent's armor.
The lance tore through his chest, then was torn away from the man. His lifeless body fell to the ground, and the killer looked at Alysia with glittering eyes. Alysia nodded.
"Alysia?" Lyn asked. Alysia cleared her head, and looked at the Sacae woman. "Wil's come back with a rabbit for some stew. Will you be joining us?"
Alysia nodded. "Yes, of course."
They gathered around the fire, enjoying the hearty stew that Wil had prepared for them, as they struggled to hold the dinner in their mouths as he joked.
"... and that is why he's no longer welcomed in Ostia." A geyser of stew erupted from Sain's mouth, shooting into the fire and causing it to crackle fiercely.
The column of fire shot upwards, incinerating the group of fighters where they stood. Five good warriors turned to ash in front of her. The heat of the pillar cascaded over her, and ash flitted downwards like black snow.
Alysia stood. "Sain, Kent, first watch is yours. I'm going to take another look inside of the fortress to see if we missed anything the first time."
Kent nodded. "Of course. We will be ready to take watch soon."
Alysia nodded, and walked into the fortress. It was a large structure, falling apart from lack of maintenance, no longer needed by the forces who'd built it. It was simply made, no elegance, but made entirely for function. As she walked through the open rooms of the fort, she fought to suppress the memories that had begun to rise up.
"How many people... so much blood." She whispered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she stared at her hands. "They didn't deserve it..."
"Pardon, milady?" A voice asked behind her, soft and sweet. She turned to face its source. Standing before her, in the dim light of the fortress, was a woman, probably no older than thirty. She had long, brown hair worn over her left shoulder in a white bow.
"Forgive my intrusion. My name is Natalie. I'm from a village not far from here." She approached awkwardly, favoring her left leg heavily, her right leg appearing badly withered. Suddenly, a pained look crossed her face. Alysia stepped forward and supported her.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"I'll be fine." She said reassuringly, wearing a forced smile. "My leg is withered from a childhood illness. I can't travel too far on it, but it doesn't trouble me much."
"But with that leg, traveling alone isn't a good idea." Alysia pointed out.
"Hopefully, I won't be alone for much longer." She said. "I'm looking for my husband. I heard he was somewhere in this area. He said he was going to raise money to have my leg mended, but that was a while ago." She sighed. "He's a kindhearted man, but I'm worried he might be involved in something dangerous."
"I've met a few people on my travels." Alysia said. "It would help if I knew what he looked like."
Natalie held out a piece of parchment. "It's poor likeness at best, but maybe it will help. His name is Dorcas."
The drawing didn't remind Alysia of anyone. "I'm sorry, but neither the name nor the face ring any bells."
"I see." She said sadly. "Please, if you do happen to meet him, please tell him that Natalie is looking for him."
Alysia nodded. "You have my word." She paused. "Where are my manners! Are you hungry?"
She smiled. "A little. Do you have any spare food?" Alysia nodded, and offered Natalie a shoulder for support. Natalie thanked her, and leaned on her as they went back to the camp.
Alysia introduced Natalie to the group, and Wil was happy to give her some of the leftover stew. As twilight approached, Kent and Sain left to check on the countryside before remaining for watch. The rest of the group moved into the old fortress and prepared to ride out a storm that was coming on the horizon. Kent and Sain quickly rode back in.
"Lady Lyndis! Outside the fortress! Bandits!" Kent yelled.
Alysia went bolt-upright. "What did you say?"
Sain spoke out. "The same rabble that we fought earlier. They're rather persistent, aren't they?" He turned to Alysia. "Let's go out and face them!"
Alysia shook her head. "Natalie can't move well. We shouldn't put her in danger like that. Besides," Alysia motioned to the walls of the fortress,"Why give up an advantage? We let them come to us."
Alysia took in a deep breath, centering herself, clearing her mind for the information that had started streaming in. "Lyn, you and I can take the eastern door. Kent, Sain and Wil should cover the main entrance. Florina, if anyone makes it past our lines, take them out before they can get Natalie."
Everyone nodded at their orders, and moved out. Alysia followed Lyn to the eastern door, and listened intently as the sounds of combat drifted to her from the main door of the fortress.
Lyn yelped as a thrown axe shot past her, embedding itself into the wall behind her. Both she and Alysia looked in surprise to see a man taking a second axe from his belt, as another man followed behind. Alysia could swear she'd seen the first man before. Then, she realized who it was.
"You!" Alysia yelled to the man in front. "Tell me, is your name Dorcas?"
The look of confusion on the man's face was obvious, matched only by the confusion that Lyn was wearing. "How do you know my name?" He called.
"You wife, Natalie, told me." Alysia said. "What are you doing with these bandits?"
"I need the money." Dorcas said flatly.
"That may be," Alysia supplied, "but surely there are other ways to raise it."
Dorcas shook his head. "Not in these parts." He said. "Mercenary work is the only way around here. I'm desperate. I'll do anything."
"Anything for gold? Even hurt your wife?" Alysia asked. "Natalie's in here! We're protecting her!"
Dorcas' eyes widened. "What!" He said, nearly dropping his axe. "Natalie... She's here?"
"She was worried about you, so she came looking for you." Alysia said. "Think, man! Is this how she wants you to get the money for her leg?"
Dorcas closed his eyes, and was in thought for a moment. "You're right." He said. "I can't do this anymore. I'm done with these bandits, and I'd like to repay your kindness towards Natalie." He looked Alysia in the eyes, giving Alysia a glimpse of what he was sure was a kind soul. "Please, allow me to fight for you." Alysia nodded.
Another bandit approached. "What are you doing?" He roared. "If you expect pay, you have to fight!"
Dorcas turned on his heel, and heaved his axe towards the bandit, cutting deep into the man's chest. "I quit." He said simply. He retrieved the axe, and pulled the second axe out of the wall behind Lyn. They pulled back from the eastern entrance now, seeing swordsmen appear. They arrived at the main entrance to see Kent and Sain fighting hard to keep the bandits at bay. As Wil peppered the bandits with arrows, Kent and Sain's swords flashed, cutting at the axe-wielding bandits. Florina thrust her lance through an archer who had attempted to shoot her down.
"Florina!" Alysia called. "We need you at the eastern entrance!" She nodded, and hurried towards the mentioned doorway. Lyn followed after her, leaving Alysia, Wil, Dorcas, Kent, and Sain to guard the main entryway. The flow of enemies slowed, and Kent took the opportunity to have Sain apply a vulnerary to an axe-wound that he had taken. Alysia sighted the bandit's commander, and was about to call out an order to attack him when he saw Lyn approaching him. She watched in awe as Lyn cut once, drawing a red line across his chest. He swung hard with his axe, but Lyn dodged the blow easily. Then, suddenly, the Mani Katti reflected the last rays of the sun as it swiftly lopped off the man's head, scattering the remaining bandits.
Exhausted, they reconvened in the fortress. Alysia smiled as Dorcas embraced Natalie.
"I'm so sorry, Natalie." He said.
"All's well that ends well, right Natalie?" Lyn commented.
"Dorcas?" Alysia asked, turning to face him. Dorcas looked to the tactician. "Make sure that Natalie gets home."
Dorcas smiled and nodded. "Our village is close. I'll take her home and come back tomorrow."
Lyn frowned. "Why not just say our farewells today?"
"He asked if he could stay with us as a part of Lyndis' Legion." Alysia admitted. "I said yes."
"But we're going to Lycia." Lyn said.
"I need to make money somewhere," Dorcas said with a shrug, "and I've promised myself and Natalie that bandits aren't the way to do it. I'd like to fight for you."
"Dorcas-" Lyn started.
"Please, Lyn." Natalie interrupted. "We're in agreement on this. Please watch my husband." Lyn smiled, nodded, and waved as Natalie and Dorcas set off for their village, and then turned and headed inside.
"Things have finally calmed down." Lyn said to Alysia as they sat together on watch. Alysia remembered the brief conversation that they'd had with Kent and Sain. Kent had objected, wanting Lyn to get more rest. Sain had objected as well, though his objections were more based in the fact that Lyn had "called his stamina and endurance into question" after pointing out that he was half-asleep in the saddle.
In the end, both had begrudgingly allowed Lyn and Alysia to take up the watch. Then, they'd been driven into the fortress when the storm finally reached them. Now, the rain had slowed, no longer blasting at the fortress' walls.
"So, you've been spacing out more and more." Lyn said, breaking the silence. "Are your memories coming back?"
Alysia shrugged. "Yes and no. It's... complicated. Difficult to explain."
Lyn shrugged. "Try."
Alysia sighed. "It's... it's like this fortress and the rain." She said. "For the most part, the fortress keeps the rain out. However, the fortress is old, and in some places, there are holes that allow the rain to seep through."
"So then your memories are like the rain seeping through the cracks?" Lyn summed up.
Alysia nodded. "But then why is there a wall around my memories in he first place?" She asked. "Why will certain events make cracks in the wall, while others don't?" She looked Lyn in the eyes, her own filled with worry. "And, most importantly, what happens when the walls finally come crashing down?"